Customer Questions

Hi Tina,
Any open time slot should be fine, but for the best quality lighting in the interior of the canyon, shoot for a mid-day departure. You won’t see the light beams in December, but you’ll have fewer people to contend with than you would during the summer months, which is a plus. Make sure you’re prepared for cooler weather and dress accordingly.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 17, 2019 at 1:22 PM

Hi Jason,
Whether you see the light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon depends largely on the time of year you’re visiting, as well as the time of day. If your trip is scheduled during the timeframe between April and September, the light beams tend to peak between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, as long as skies are sunny, of course. At 1:00 PM, later in the season, you may only catch partial light beams that go down as far as half-way down the canyon wall, but won’t penetrate all the way down to the canyon floor. If you have your heart set on seeing the light beams, you might want to schedule an earlier time slot to tour Upper Antelope Canyon, availability permitting, but you will pay a premium price for the premium view. Hope that helps.
When To Be Where: Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 17, 2019 at 1:18 PM

Hi Zafar and thank you for writing in.
The order in which you visit the various attractions on your “wish” list will come down to two key factors:
1. Availability of lodging at the Grand Canyon and
2. Availability of Antelope Canyon tours
The rest of your trip planning should revolve, and evolve, around these two elements.
That said, a “classic” 7-day American Southwest trip itinerary using Las Vegas as a starting/ending point is as follows:
Day 1 – Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, ~5 hour drive, optional stopovers at Hoover Dam and Seligman, AZ, overnight at Grand Canyon
Day 2 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, ~4 hour drive factoring in the numerous opportunities for scenic viewpoint stops that should be taken advantage of. Lunch at Cameron Trading Post, possibly tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon, overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 3 – Visit Horseshoe Bend , take Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip or Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, 2nd night in Page, AZ
Day 4 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Bryce Canyon (~3 hour drive), optional stopover between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT to do Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos hike, overnight in Bryce Canyon area
Day 5 – More hiking in Bryce Canyon if desired, drive to Zion National Park (~2 hour drive), overnight in Springdale, UT.
Day 6 – Hiking and exploring in Zion; popular hikes include but are definitely not limited to Angel’s Landing and The Narrows. Good day hikes in Zion 2nd night in Springdale, UT.
Day 7 – Return to Las Vegas, ~3.5-4.5 hour drive, variance factoring in the need to pass through a construction zone in the Virgin River Gorge area of I-15.

Naturally, if you find Grand Canyon lodging availability to be more conducive to going there at the end of your trip rather than the beginning, then you can simply do this itinerary in reverse. One more observation is that your visit is timed for just after the Labor Day holiday, so it will be very busy. Don’t be surprised to find a lot of lodging and tours sold out. You need to get on making reservations ASAP!
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 13, 2019 at 1:15 PM

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From Zafar

Thank you very much for your detailed answer, Alley. I was under the impression that going to the Grand Canyon would be better if we went after Labor Day so that we may not encounter any lodging troubles. What would you recommend as a better time to visit the The Grand Canyon in September? I was hoping to go in September so that the weather would be a little more pleasant. I do see that the itinerary that you mentioned involves a lot of driving and not much time near the Grand Canyon Village. Is that OK? To enjoy the splendor of the Grand Canyon, do you think that we should take off Bryce and/or Zion off our list and concentrate only on the Grand Canyon? Or visit Grand Canyon and Zion only? Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

July 15, 2019 at 12:35 PM

Hi Maria,
Sorry, I can’t endorse this itinerary at all, for the following reasons.
1. It requires WAY too much driving. With all due respect, you need to look at a map and get a truer sense for the distances you’ll need to travel.
2. It doesn’t allow for hardly ANY downtime, which is what vacations are all about anyway, right?
3. In some areas, it’s a complete pipe dream (unrealistic).
4. You’re traveling over Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest travel periods in the U.S., and if you haven’t made lodging reservations already, you’re going to have a hard time finding places to say in some areas.
For starters, traveling from Denver to Moab, UT is going to take 7 hours minimum, whether you go through Colorado National Monument or not. It’s a drive best broken up into two days, but seeing as though Phoenix is your final destination, I’d suggest starting to make your way South a lot sooner. As much as I hate to say it, this will mean skipping Arches/Canyonlands. Where should you go instead? Mesa Verde. It’s a wonderful park, featuring an unusually large number very well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cities, complimented by some beautiful natural scenery. Like the drive to Moab, UT, it’s 7 hours minimum if you were to try and drive out all the way from Denver, which I don’t recommend. I’d recommend instead breaking up the drive in Gunnison or Montrose, CO.
Monument Valley is going to be next to impossible to find lodging in, but you can still realistically see that area as a “drive by” between Mesa Verde and Page, AZ.
Unfortunately, I’m also going to recommend cutting out Bryce and Zion, too. If your final destination was Las Vegas, it would be easier to pull off, but since you’re ending your trip in Phoenix, these parks will be too far out of your way to give sufficient time to. Zion itself deserves at least 3-4 days. Instead, substitute Sedona. Here again, this is an absolutely stunning area with striking red rock formations, easy but scenic hiking, and some opportunities to swim if you want. Plus at just 2 hours from Phoenix, it makes for a good place to end your vacation in a more relaxed frame of mind. Grand Canyon North Rim also doesn’t make the cut as far as driving there, but there’s still a way you might be able to see it. More on that in a minute…
So, here’s a revised trip plan for you.
08/29 – Drive from Denver, CO, to Gunnison or Montrose, 4-5 hour drive depending on which place you choose to overnight, maybe swing through the Curecanti National Recreation Area along the way.
08/30 – Drive from Gunnison or Montrose to Mesa Verde National Park 4-5 hour drive depending on previous night’s lodging location, overnight in Mancos, Durango, or Cortez, CO.
08/31 – Drive to Page, AZ, via Monument Valley (~4.5 hours), overnight in Page, AZ.
09/01 – Tour Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, 2nd night in Page, AZ
09/02 – Drive from Page to Grand Canyon South Rim (~4 hours factoring in stops), visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, have lunch at Cameron Trading Post, overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim.
09/03 – First thing in the morning, take a helicopter flight over Grand Canyon North Rim, then drive to Sedona, ~3 hour drive
09/04 – Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour or hot air balloon ride, drive to Phoenix for flight home (~2 hour drive). You might go through Jerome, a really cool little artist’s colony, which will only add about 1 hour to your drive time.

I hope you will give this revised itinerary its due consideration. I think it would make for a much more relaxed pace, and a better quality vacation for you and your traveling party.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 11, 2019 at 5:34 PM

Hi Erica!
Wow, thank you for taking the time to report back on your trip, and for sharing your vacation “finds” with us. We’re glad you had a good trip and anniversary, and hope you get the chance to return to the area in the future.
Have a wonderful summer,
Alley 🙂

July 10, 2019 at 3:50 PM

Hi Morgan,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun and I have no problem whatsoever putting my “stamp of approval” on it. That’s so cool that you scored lodging at the North Rim and The View! So, yes, your tour does involve a bit of backtracking, which you seem prepared to accept, but really, it’s minimal when you view your trip in more of a “big picture” context.

Between now and your vacation, if you have the time and/or inclination, you might check for cancellations in Zion, Bryce, and the North Rim, so you could reorder your stops and to hit them in that order, then keep the rest of your trip plans “as is.”

But even doing that will result in a small degree of “zig zagging.” Here again, if you don’t have the stomach or patience for all that, I wouldn’t worry about it in the least. If you’ve never been to this part of the U.S. before, it will all seem new to you, even areas you might have passed through before, if that makes sense.
A few things to keep in mind:
1. there is construction going on on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge; that will potentially tack another 30-60 minutes on your drive time between Las Vegas and Bryce. Get an early start anyway if you want to hit the Valley of Fire. It’s an amazing area, but still hot at that time of year.
2. you’re going to passing through different time zones on your tour.
– Nevada is on PACIFIC Daylight Time, and Utah is on MOUNTAIN Daylight Time. You will “lose” an hour passing from Las Vegas to Bryce.
– The Grand Canyon and Page, Arizona are on Mountain STANDARD Time, and the Navajo Reservation is on Mountain DAYLIGHT Time, therefore, you will “gain” an hour traveling from Bryce to
the North Rim, “lose” it again going from the North Rim to Zion, “regain” it passing from Zion to Page, “lose” it once more as you travel to Monument Valley, then “gain it back”
going from Monument Valley to Grand Canyon South Rim. BTW, Antelope Canyon tour operators run on Page, AZ, time for guests’ convenience.
3. Don’t to any driving in the dark. Nighttime driving can be dangerous in this part of the U.S. due to lack of ambient lighting on local roads (a deliberate move to preserve the
natural quality of the night sky), as well as the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses. Know when sunrise and sunset occur in each place you visit.
I really hope you’re not tearing your hair out by this point LOL — the biggest takeaway from all that is that if you’re passing from one time zone to another for any scheduled activities, such as a guided tour, you need to be prepared to time your drive accordingly.
RE: Monument Valley, if you have a rental car, you might want to pass on doing the 17-mile scenic drive in it. Technically, off-road driving is forbidden by most rental car outlets, and that road is unpaved. You’d be on the hook for any damage you might sustain by taking it on. You might want to look into a guided tour for Monument Valley as well. On the drive to Grand Canyon South Rim, plan to stop for brunch/lunch at the Cameron Trading Post. The Navajo Tacos are legendary!
RE: hiking to Ooh-Aah Point, the parking lot for the South Kaibab Trailhead at Yaki Point is closed to private vehicles, so you’ll need to take the “Hiker’s Express” shuttle from Bright Angel Lodge. Bright Angel Lodge is only 1/4 mile from Maswik, so it’s easy enough to just leave your car where it’s at and walk there.
On the drive back to Vegas, you might swing through Seligman, AZ, if you’ve seen the “Cars” movies and are into Route 66 kitsch. Grab lunch and a few laughs at Delgadillo’s Sno Cap Drive-In, it’s a hoot! Burgers are pretty good, too.
Be sure to pick up an “America The Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass.” For $80, this card grants you access to all National Parks, Monuments, and Federal Fee Areas in the U.S. for 1 year’s time. The only areas it won’t work are Horseshoe Bend (city park), Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley (Native American tribal parks), but it will still pay for itself on the trip you’re planning to take. Just pick it up at the first National Park Fee Station you hit, which in your case, is probably going to be Bryce.
Let us know how things go! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 10, 2019 at 4:44 PM

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From Sharon

Hi Alley,

Such awesome information! Can you please give your opinion on our trip? It’s a once in a life time trip. We will be spending 1 week in Arizona in April 2020. I’m thinking of flying into Flagstaff and using that as a base to do the following day trips: Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and hopefully Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano, and Wupatki National Monument – from what I’m reading, I think we could combine a couple of them into one day. I would love to end the trip by taking the Grand Canyon Railroad to the Grand Canyon, spending the night and heading straight to the airport. Could you please give me your thoughts, ideas and suggestions? Have I chosen the best highlights? Am I being too ambitious? Thank you so much for your time!

July 22, 2019 at 10:28 PM

Hi Wei,
Unfortunately, we cannot assist you in securing hiking permits for The Wave. The rules of the online and walk-in lottery expressly forbid “proxies” or third-party representatives from applying for permits on other parties’ behalf. There is no way to “guarantee” that you’ll be able to go to The Wave as the permit lottery process is very competitive, and it’s not uncommon to find hundreds of people applying for just a handful of permits on any given day. The BLM is considering an increase in the number of permits, but that only promises to be slightly helpful.
If you want to be absolutely certain of seeing Coyote Buttes North and The Wave, the only way to do that is to charter a flight over the area. Fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters can be chartered out of several airports nearby, most notably, Page, AZ. This will be expensive, but this also affords you the opportunities to see other beautiful scenery in the area with virtually no physical effort on your part. For more information, read this piece on our companion site, TheWaveAZ.com: “So You Didn’t Get A Wave Permit – Now What?”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 10, 2019 at 3:57 PM

Hello Grant,
If you wish to visit Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley from Scottsdale on a self-drive basis, you would need to allot at least 3 days to accomplish this.
Day 1: drive from Scottsdale to Monument Valley, ~5.5 hours drive, overnight in Monument Valley.
Day 2: Take morning backcountry tour of Monument Valley, drive to Page, AZ (~2 hours), overnight in Page.
Day 3: Take morning Antelope Canyon tour , drive back to Scottsdale with stop at Horseshoe Bend (~5 hour drive)
If you prefer to take an escorted tour, they are out there, but fair warning: you will be limited in what you can accomplish. For example, a tour that includes Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley may also require extra time to visit other National Parks that you may not necessarily be interested in, such as Bryce, Zion, or Arches. Or a 3-day tour that includes Antelope Canyon may go to the Grand Canyon, but not Monument Valley. At the end of the day, driving yourself will allow you optimal freedom and flexibility to enjoy the parks of Northern Arizona at your own pace, and on your own terms.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 08, 2019 at 2:54 PM

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From grant

ally thank you so much that’s given us food for thought as we are coming for a fortnight to stay in scottsdale all the way from glasgow scotland in the uk and are wanting to see as much as we can take care and thank you so much

July 08, 2019 at 7:46 PM

Hi Sabrina,
Sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news, but October is no longer considered “low season.” It now falls within peak travel season in Northern Arizona, especially in light of the nearly perfect weather that tends to prevail. A potential plus, however, is that tourists tend to be mostly adults since kids are back in school.
Long story short, if the tour companies instruct you to be at the meeting place 1.5 hours prior to tour start time, that’s indeed when you should be there.
Mid-day is still regarded is the best time for touring the slot canyons, but the light beams are mostly gone, or at least won’t penetrate all the way down to the canyon floor.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 08, 2019 at 2:18 PM

Hi Stacey!
Good on you for planning your Northern Arizona vacation well in advance. Your itinerary looks pretty fun and well-organized.
One thing that jumps right out at me, however, is a destination you have left off the itinerary: Zion National Park. This is a huge park, with lots of family-friendly activities to offer. It’s also right on your way from Page, AZ, to Las Vegas, NV, so, not a huge detour, by any means. The only caveat, though, is that you really need 2-3 days, bare minimum, to do it justice. You’ve already allotted 2 days to Sedona, which is the right move, so if you can’t add another 2-3 days onto your trip, you could do one of 3 things:
1. Visit Zion as a “drive-by” between Page, AZ, and Las Vegas, NV, at the end of your trip, which would add another 90 minutes to 2 hours onto your trip

2. Drop that 2nd night in Page and give it to Zion and/or
3. Drop that 1st night in Las Vegas and give it to Zion
If you are able to tinker with your itinerary so you can give Zion at least an overnight, Springdale, UT, is the best place to stay for choices of hotels, access to the park shuttle (which is required if you’re not staying in the park), and ease of access to I-15.
Other thoughts:
In Phoenix, there are two car museums you might consider visiting on that second day: the Martin Auto Museum and the Penske Racing Museum
For Sedona, a good family-friendly activity, and #1 on on the list of “must-do’s” is the Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour. For suggestions on other activities you might enjoy with the kids, visit “Trips With Tykes: Things To Do In Sedona With Kids”
On Day 4, I concur that spending that night at the Grand Canyon is the better option. It takes ~3 hours to drive from Sedona to GC South Rim, then it would take you another 3.5-4.5 hours to drive from GC to Page, AZ, factoring in potential stops. That doesn’t give you much time for sightseeing. Book a hotel at the Grand Canyon that night, then make the drive the following morning when you’re fresh.
Get an early start on the drive to Page, AZ, and plan on having breakfast/brunch at the Cameron Trading Post. Tour Antelope Canyon and Glen Canyon Dam that afternoon, then hit Horseshoe Bend right after sunrise the following morning (about 6:00 AM).
As for whether you make a day trip to Monument Valley, here again, you’d have to get an early start on the drive. It’s 2 hours minimum each way, and you want to make sure you are back to Page, AZ, by sunset, which occurs at ~7:00 PM local time. Remember that Page, AZ, will be on Mountain STANDARD Time, whereas Monument Valley will be on Mountain Daylight Time, therefore, you’ll “lose an hour” traveling from Page to MV, then “gain it back” upon returning to Page. Something to keep in mind if you want to do any kind of scheduled activity in Monument Valley. If all that driving and calculating doesn’t appeal to you, there might still be a way for you to see Monument Valley: fly over it. Fixed wing airplanes depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily, and take 90 minutes to fly over Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and Rainbow Bridge.
If that doesn’t appeal, and you prefer to keep that second night in Page, AZ, instead of going to Zion, an activity we heartily recommend is the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip. This is a wonderful family activity, which, as the name suggests, does not go through any rapids, but offers up plenty of beautiful scenery and compelling history!
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 08, 2019 at 2:14 PM

Hi Vaibhavi, and thank you for your compliments!
Upper Antelope Canyon should be OK for your Mom. There are no stairs or ladders, and it’s a 100-yard out and back walk on a mostly flat trail. The most “exciting” part of the trip may be the 2-mile ride on an unpaved track from the highway to the mouth of the canyon. The ride can get bumpy. If you foresee a problem with that, you might inquire with your chosen tour operator if your mom can sit up front with the guide.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 05, 2019 at 1:32 PM

Hi Alley,
Thank you so much for this post. I and my fiancé are highly interested in visiting antelope canyon. We were definitely considering doing the self driving and self directed route. Are you able to provide further information (steps/ directions) on how to get down into the canyon?

This would be much appreciated! Thank you again!

July 07, 2019 at 8:40 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi Theresa,
This post did not provide step by step instructions on how to get down into Antelope Canyon for the simple reason that you can’t do it on your own. Antelope Canyon, and other slot canyons in the Page, AZ, area, are located on Navajo Indian Tribal land. Therefore, a tribe-authorized guide service is required to visit them.
For Antelope Canyon specifically, you’ll need to decide whether you prefer to tour Lower or Upper Antelope Canyon, then make a reservation. In the event Antelope Canyon tours are sold out, you might consider touring one of many alternate slot canyons in the area that are just as beautiful, but far less crowded.
Since the drive from Las Vegas to Page, AZ, takes ~5 hours to complete, spending 1-2 nights in Page, AZ, is recommended, not only for optimal comfort and enjoyment of Antelope Canyon, but so you may take advantage of all the Page, AZ, area has to offer!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 08, 2019 at 3:00 PM

Hi folks,
First off, it won’t be possible for you guys to do white water rafting this time around. Children have to be at least 8 to participate in Grand Canyon white water rafting trips, so… good reason to plan for another visit! The Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip in Page, AZ, is a wonderful, family-friendly trip that accommodates children as young as 4 years old. In Page, AZ, be sure to make time to tour Antelope Canyon and visit Horseshoe Bend. If you do these activities in addition to the Glen Canyon Float Trip, you should plan for at least 2 days in Page.
Slide Rock State Park is a definite must if you’re visiting Sedona. Other kid-friendly activities in the vicinity of Sedona are Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde. You might also check out the trolley cars that go through the Village of Oak Creek and West Sedona. It’s hop-on/hop-off, so you can do some walking around town if you want.
At Grand Canyon South Rim, you might check out the IMAX movie presentation, “Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets,” or perhaps take a helicopter flight over the North Rim. The latter two activities are based in Tusayan, AZ, 7 miles outside the park gates. Once inside Grand Canyon Village, the easy, paved rim trail is a good hike to take. If you wish to venture into the inner canyon, the Bright Angel Trail is most easily accessible from Grand Canyon Village. Remember that 1 hour down the trail = 2 hours back up, so don’t go down further than you’re prepared to hike out! Water and snacks should be carried if you plan on spending any more than 1 hour’s time or going further than 1 mile. Grand Canyon hiking
As for things to do in the Phoenix area, there’s no shortage of water parks, museums, zoos, cultural centers and other activities to keep you busy! Consult VisitPhoenix.com: Family-Friendly Activities in Phoenix for ideas on how and where to spend your time.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 03, 2019 at 4:59 PM

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From Heather Harris

Alley, any chance you can share an opinion on my proposed itinerary. We are coming either in mid-February or Early-April.
Day 1, ATL to Las Vegas, 50min drive to Hoover Dam, continue 3hr to stay the night in Flagstaff
Day 2, drive the loop from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon (Bright Angel Trail) back to Flagstaff
Check out scenic loop drive Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monuments
Lunch at Cameron Trading Post
Stop at Yaki Point, Grandview Point, Moran Point, not Lipan Point, Navajo Point!, Desert View (at sunset)
Day 3, drive 1hr Flagstaff to Sedona
Oak Creek Canyon (take a dip if warm), Slide Rock State Park (rock sliding if warm)
Day 4, Explore Sedona
ATV ride, Cathedral Rock, Palatki Ruins, Hike to Devil’s Bridge
Day 5, drive to Page (upper Antelope Canyon – flat, but need reservation with native tour guide 10:30am – 90 min; Horseshoe Bend – 60 min self-guided .75 mile hike; Glen Canyon 1/2 day Float Trip; Lake Powell boat tour from Antelope Point Marina)
Day 6, from Page to Bryce Canyon (3hr)
Day 7, drive to Zion (2hr)
Day 8, Zion to Las Vegas, fly home

July 06, 2019 at 2:50 PM

Hi Sireesha,
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are located fairly close to one another, so seeing them in one day’s time shouldn’t be a problem. What might be a problem at this point is making reservations for an Antelope Canyon tour. If you don’t have a booking already, you might have a hard time finding space, especially for a family your size. With a 6-year-old in town, you’ll be limited to touring either Upper Antelope Canyon, Lower Antelope Canyon, or Antelope Canyon X. Bringing Kids to Antelope Canyon
Horseshoe Bend is best visited just after sunrise for cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Please bear in mind that some traffic restrictions will be in place in Page, AZ, and Horseshoe Bend over the 4th of July weekend.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 03, 2019 at 5:03 PM

Hi Lori, this is copied from my reply to your previous inquiry, so apologies in advance if you’ve made changes that aren’t reflected here.
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Your tentative itinerary looks pretty fun, still, I’d recommend making a couple of modifications for the sake of convenience.
First off, you mention in your previous inquiry that you’ve been to Sedona before, so I assume that’s why you’re leaving it out this time around.
I did some research and it appears that the Arizona Diamondbacks 2020 season opener is scheduled for April 5th, vs. the Boston Red Sox.
At the Grand Canyon, it is not necessary to take a guided tour. The South Rim is a very easy area to self-tour, and a good chunk of your sightseeing of the Grand Canyon will actually occur on the drive to Page (or from Page… more on that in a minute). Most of the overlooks are open to private vehicles, except for the ones on the Hermit’s Rest/West Rim Drive, which are served by a free hop-on/hop-off shuttle line. If possible, book your Grand Canyon lodging inside the park, or Tusayan, just 7 miles South of the park so you can easily enjoy sunset and/or sunrise on the rim of the Grand Canyon!
For the Page, AZ, leg of your trip, the boat tour on this particular site isn’t the one that goes through Horseshoe Bend. The trip you’re looking for is the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip. During the month of April, the 1/2-Day Float Trip departs once daily at 11:00 AM with a 10:00 AM check-in, and concludes at 3:30 PM. As to whether you should tour both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, they are both beautiful, you would just need to be sure that neither slot canyon tour overlaps with the float trip on either side of it. Upper + Lower Antelope Canyon “bundle” If you opt to tour just one slot canyon, and your family is physically fit enough to handle Lower Antelope, I’d recommend going with that. Full Video Walk-Through of Lower Antelope Canyon
On Day 5, where you propose to visit Zion as a day trip from Page, AZ, that’s doable, but you must keep a close eye on the clock. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the country due to lack of artificial lighting on local roads, and the possibility of colliding with a deer, elk, free range cow, or even a wild horse. It typically takes ~2 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Zion, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens, since it’s a very scenic drive, and you’ll want to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves along the way, such as the Big Water Visitors Center, Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos trail, and Moqui Cave, just to name a few. So a 2-hour drive could easily turn into 3.5 or even 4 hours, unless you resist all temptations to stop. Another thing to keep in mind is that while Utah DOES observe Daylight Savings Time, Arizona DOES NOT. So, you’ll “lose” an hour traveling between Arizona and Utah, but “regain” it as you travel back to Arizona. Sunrise in AZ occurs at ~6:00 AM in early April; sunset takes place around 6:45 PM. Taking all that into consideration, that wouldn’t give you much time to work with in Zion, which is an amazing park that really deserves 3-4 days time to fully enjoy.
If you’re open to making some changes, you might consider flying into Las Vegas instead of Phoenix. Las Vegas occasionally hosts some Spring Training games, if catching a baseball game is a non-negotiable element of this trip. If not, you’d probably find Las Vegas to be better poised to make this itinerary work. Your schedule would look something like this:
Day 1 – Fly into Las Vegas, catch a spring training game, overnight in Las Vegas
Day 2 – Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hours), overnight at the Grand Canyon
Day 3 – Ranger-guided hike at South Rim. Drive to Page, AZ (~3-3.5 hours factoring in stops), night 1 in Page
Day 4 – Antelope Canyon early morning tour, 1/2-day Glen Canyon Float Trip, either spend 2nd night in Page, AZ, or drive to Zion and overnight in Springdale, UT.
Day 5 – Early AM drive from Page to Zion, or get early start out of Springdale, UT, for Zion National Park tour.
Day 6 – Drive back to Las Vegas (~3.5 hours), fly home
If you prefer to keep Phoenix as your staging city, and depending on your tolerance for making a longish drive at the beginning of your tour, you could do something like this:
Day 1 – Fly into Phoenix, catch baseball game, overnight in Phoenix
Day 2 – Drive from Phoenix to Kanab, UT (~6 hours), overnight in Kanab.
Day 3 – Drive from Kanab to Zion Ponderosa Ranch (~1 hour drive), take canyoneering tour, spend 2nd night in Kanab.
Day 4 – Drive to Page, AZ (~60-90 minutes), check in 10:00 AM for 11:00 AM float trip, take afternoon tour of Lower Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page.
Day 5 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops), overnight at South Rim.
Day 6 – Drive back to Phoenix, fly home.

Sorry to ramble on for so long, but hope that’s given you some things to think about. Please don’t hesitate to hit us up again if you need further guidance!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 01, 2019 at 2:53 PM

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From Lori Hawkins

Thank you so much! I apologize for the duplication! I appreciate the advice. 🙂

July 01, 2019 at 4:09 PM

Hi Jagadeesh,
Sorry for the troubles.
At present, only two out of four Upper Antelope Canyon tour companies allow children younger than 7: Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours and Roger Ekis’ Antelope Canyon Tours.
For more information on touring Antelope Canyon with children, check out “FAQ: Bringing Kids To Antelope Canyon”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 01, 2019 at 2:36 PM

Dear Andres,
You are visiting during the U.S. Independence Day Holiday, one of the busiest travel weekends in Northern Arizona! Reservations are an absolute must for any overnight accommodations, including camping. Speaking of which, you might wish to spring for a hotel in Page, AZ. That time of year is VERY hot, and overnight temperatures probably won’t dip down low enough for camping to be comfortable.
Whatever you decide, make reservations ASAP!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 01, 2019 at 2:29 PM

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From Klara

Hi , you seem like the most amazing person
We camp a lot . Its my birthday on 12/01 and i would love to camp and go To check Antelope canyon . I would love to get the free camping but i dont mind to pay! I think its off season but do you think we could be lucky! We will be driving from Cal/Ventura. Thank you so much

November 12, 2019 at 6:36 PM

Hi Amit,
Unfortunately, I can’t endorse either plan because both involve driving at night. This is strongly discouraged in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah due to lack of lighting on most local roads (a deliberate move to preserve the natural quality of the night sky), and the tendency of deer, elk, and other large animals to congregate around them. For your safety, all driving must be done during daylight hours.
If you can possibly free up another night so you can stay in Page, AZ, to tour Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, then drive back to Vegas the next morning when you’re fresh, that would be much better.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

July 01, 2019 at 3:00 PM

Thanks Alley.
In option 1 I am planning to start around 5 from Vegas and should reach Kanab by 8.30 .. looking at current sunset should it fine ?

July 01, 2019 at 11:20 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi Amit,
According to sunrise/sunset charts, you should be OK if you reach Kanab, UT, by 8:30 PM. Sunset occurs at approximately 8:45 PM. However, you might want to get an earlier start than 5:00 PM out of Las Vegas. There is construction taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that could tack another 30-60 minutes onto your drive time.
Best regards,
Alley 🙂

July 03, 2019 at 4:43 PM

Hi Kit,
So sorry to hear this! We will update the information forthwith.
Alley 🙂

June 28, 2019 at 9:23 PM

Hi Meghan,
It doesn’t happen every day, but another but why risk it? Book your tour for earlier in the morning and enjoy cooler temperatures in Antelope Canyon!
Alley 🙂

June 28, 2019 at 1:46 PM

I am trying to book the package tour for lower and upper antelope canyon and the boat tour, but the website is not working, How can I get this booked for two people in September? Thanks.

June 28, 2019 at 5:42 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Dear Matt,
Sorry for the trouble, please try this link.
Alley 🙂

June 28, 2019 at 9:30 PM

Hi Samantha,
Your itinerary looks more logical in this 2nd version 😉
However, there are a couple of minor “reality checks” I should offer before you set out.
Late August/early September in Page, AZ, is still pretty hot. Nighttime temperatures may not cool off sufficiently for car camping to be comfortable. You might want to spring for a hotel on this leg of your trip so you have access to air conditioning. Page, AZ, hotels
Also, The Narrows might not be an option since late August/early September usually coincide with the tail end of the monsoon season in the American Southwest. Flash flood danger is typically higher at this time of year, which can result in the Narrows being closed off for visitor safety. Should that put a damper on your plans, don’t fret too much about it, there are plenty of other wonderful hikes to be had in Zion!
On September 1st, where you propose to hit Horseshoe Bend after touring Antelope Canyon, I suggest reversing the order of these activities. Parking at Horseshoe Bend tends to be a big hot mess at sunset. Just after sunrise, however, the overlook is not as crowded, plus you can enjoy cooler temperatures at this time. Be sure to make advance reservations for your Antelope Canyon tour.
RE: which part of the Grand Canyon to visit, I suggest the South Rim. The North Rim is beautiful, don’t get me wrong on that, but the South Rim has more in the way of visitor services, and a lot more square mileage of the Grand Canyon that is accessible to vehicles.
On the subject of free camping, options are definitely out there on BLM and National Forest Land, as long as you abide by certain rules. Namely, you must be at least 1/4 mile from a main highway, and pack out all your trash, including … you know. The only disadvantage to going this route (or advantage, depending on your point of view) is that areas where camping is permitted are usually going to be some distance outside most National Parks, Monuments, and Federal Fee Areas. Some roads may require or strongly recommend that your vehicle be equipped with 4WD before traveling down them. Good sources of information on free camping all over the U.S. is FreeCampsites.net. You might also consult AllStays.com or Campendium.com For a first-hand account of a Grand Canyon family vacation using free campgrounds whenever possible, visit this blog entry.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

June 25, 2019 at 3:07 PM

Hi Noelle and glad you found us!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, and you’ve chosen a great time to be here! Still, I have to offer a few “reality checks” before you commit to it 100%.
Driving an RV is going to limit you slightly on the places you can realistically go. You don’t specify whether you’ll be driving a motorhome, or driving a truck or SUV pulling a 5th wheel or travel trailer. Since you’re flying into Phoenix, I’ll assume it’s a motorhome, so, no tow vehicle that can be unhooked to explore areas that may be impractical for a larger rig. Camp Verde RV Parks
On Day 2 when you say you want to explore Jerome, AZ, many RV forums advise against driving that section of US89A in a rig over 30′ in length as it’s very narrow and twisty. You might want to skip it this time around and go directly to the Grand Canyon. At Grand Canyon South Rim, there are 2 RV parks located in Grand Canyon Village: Trailer Village, which has electrical and water hook-ups, and Mather Campground, which does not have hook-ups, but has a laundry and paid showers on site, plus an RV dump station located nearby.
On your 3rd day when you indicate you’re taking a mule ride, I assume you’re referring to the 3-hour Canyon Vistas ride? The only other option is a 2-day/1-night trip to Phantom Ranch, which is booked 1 year in advance. I’d suggest taking the 8:00 AM departure so you don’t risk doing any of the drive to Page, AZ, at night. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in Northern AZ due to the lack of artificial lighting on local roads, and the tendency for deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses to graze around them at night. Even in a motorhome, you don’t want to risk a collision with a large animal in areas where cell service is spotty at best, and a tow truck will be a long time in coming and very expensive! In early October, sunrise occurs at ~6:30 AM, sunset at around 6:00 PM.
On October 2nd, where you intend to drive to Bryce after the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, keep in mind that this trip could run anywhere from 6-8 hours in length depending on the water level of Lake Powell at the time of your visit. A hike of 2-3 miles round trip from the boat dock will also be required to actually see Rainbow Bridge. After an activity like this, just about the only thing you’ll probably be in the mood to do is relax with a cocktail somewhere, not make a 3-hour drive to your next destination. If the prospect of skipping the Rainbow Bridge Boat tour doesn’t appeal – which I totally would understand – then take the earlier departure at 7:30 AM, which would conclude sometime between 2:30 and 3:30 PM. That would at least buy you some time to get to Bryce before sunset (which occurs at 7:00 PM Utah time). Remember, driving a motorhome means you have to take the drive more slowly than if you were in a passenger car! If you feel this would be cutting it too fine, and you still want to see Rainbow Bridge, an efficient and exciting way to accomplish this goal is to fly over it. Fixed-wing airplanes depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily, usually first thing in the morning for better light and less wind. Rainbow Bridge air tours typically take only 30 minutes time. RV & Camping Options in Page, AZ
For Bryce Canyon, there are 2 first-come/first-serve campgrounds located inside the park, North and Sunset Campgrounds. Neither have hook-ups, so if you prefer to have them (you’ll probably need some heat at night at this time of year since Bryce is 8,000′ above sea level), look to Ruby’s Inn, Bryce Canyon City, and other developed areas just outside the park boundary. Bryce Canyon RV Parks
In Zion, there are two campgrounds located in Zion Canyon, which is the main commercial area of the park. Neither have electrical, water, or sewer hook-ups. If you prefer these services, you’ll want to look at developed RV parks in Springdale, UT, which is situated near the Western border of the park. Also keep in mind that coming from East to West, the most convenient route will be the Zion-Mt. Carmel tunnel, which requires an “escort fee” for all RV’s and oversized vehicles to travel through it. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the particulars of traveling in Zion National Park in an RV before you set out on your trip.
On the drive back to Las Vegas from Zion, be aware that construction is taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge, which will tack another 30-60 minutes onto your trip time.
In order to free up a full day to devote to seeing Bryce Canyon, I’d recommend dropping that first night in Camp Verde and just driving all the way to Grand Canyon South Rim instead. If that’s not an option, then, again, reconsider the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 25, 2019 at 2:30 PM

Hi Lauren,
Your trip looks very well-planned, and really fun! The biggest obstacle I can see you running up against, however, is with a car rental. Many rental car outlets require that you be at least 25 to rent a vehicle. Those who do rent to individuals younger than 25 may tack a pretty hefty “young driver charge” onto their fees, so do check into that thoroughly before you commit.
A few other observations: August typically falls within what’s known as “monsoon season” in the American Southwest. Therefore, any tours you do in the Page, AZ, area should be scheduled for earlier morning hours. Afternoon tours are often cancelled due to heightened flash flood danger, excessive heat warnings, or both. It looks as though you have planned accordingly for that, so again, high five!
On Day 4 – plan on hitting Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise. Sunset at Horseshoe Bend is terribly crowded, and you may have troubles finding a place to park. In August, sunrise occurs at about 5:30 AM. I know that sounds awfully early, especially when you’re on vacation, but trust me, you’ll enjoy cooler temperatures and fewer people competing for that perfect photo op!
If you have the option to add another day onto the end of your trip, I’d recommend doing so. Otherwise, you may want to skip the Virgin River tubing on your 8th day. Activities like that, though not particularly dangerous (usually), tend to leave a person in a state we refer to as “sun drunk.” Afterwards, all you’ll probably be in the mood to do is relax with a cocktail and have an early night, not make a 3.5+ hour drive to the airport and a red-eye flight home! Whatever you decide, keep in mind that there will be construction taking place on I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that could delay your arrival into Las Vegas by 30-60 minutes.
Hope that helps. Please feel free to hit us up again if we can offer further suggestions!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 24, 2019 at 4:17 PM

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From Lauren

Thank you so much for the suggestions! We really appreciate it and we are looking forward to our first time in Arizona!

June 26, 2019 at 12:32 AM

Hi Lori, and thank you for visiting our site! Kudos as well for doing your trip planning well in advance.
Your tentative itinerary looks pretty fun, still, I’d recommend making a couple of modifications for the sake of convenience.
First off, you mention that you’ve been to Sedona before, so I assume that’s why you’re leaving it out this time around.
I did some research and it appears that the Arizona Diamondbacks 2020 season opener is scheduled for April 5th, vs. the Boston Red Sox.
At the Grand Canyon, it is not necessary to take a guided tour. The South Rim is a very easy area to self-tour, and a good chunk of your sightseeing of the Grand Canyon will actually occur on the drive to Page (or from Page… more on that in a minute). Most of the overlooks are open to private vehicles, except for the ones on the Hermit’s Rest/West Rim Drive, which are served by a free hop-on/hop-off shuttle line. If possible, book your Grand Canyon lodging inside the park, or Tusayan, just 7 miles South of the park so you can easily enjoy sunset and/or sunrise on the rim of the Grand Canyon!
For the Page, AZ, leg of your trip, the boat tour on this particular site isn’t the one that goes through Horseshoe Bend. The trip you’re looking for is the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip. During the month of April, the 1/2-Day Float Trip departs once daily at 11:00 AM with a 10:00 AM check-in, and concludes at 3:30 PM. As to whether you should tour both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, they are both beautiful, you would just need to be sure that neither slot canyon tour overlaps with the float trip on either side of it. Upper + Lower Antelope Canyon “bundle” If you opt to tour just one slot canyon, and your family is physically fit enough to handle Lower Antelope, I’d recommend going with that. Full Video Walk-Through of Lower Antelope Canyon
On Day 5, where you propose to visit Zion as a day trip from Page, AZ, that’s doable, but you must keep a close eye on the clock. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the country due to lack of artificial lighting on local roads, and the possibility of colliding with a deer, elk, free range cow, or even a wild horse. It typically takes ~2 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Zion, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens, since it’s a very scenic drive, and you’ll want to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves along the way, such as the Big Water Visitors Center, Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos trail, and Moqui Cave, just to name a few. So a 2-hour drive could easily turn into 3.5 or even 4 hours, unless you resist all temptations to stop. Another thing to keep in mind is that while Utah DOES observe Daylight Savings Time, Arizona DOES NOT. So, you’ll “lose” an hour traveling between Arizona and Utah, but “regain” it as you travel back to Arizona. Sunrise in AZ occurs at ~6:00 AM in early April; sunset takes place around 6:45 PM. Taking all that into consideration, that wouldn’t give you much time to work with in Zion, which is an amazing park that really deserves 3-4 days time to fully enjoy.
If you’re open to making some changes, you might consider flying into Las Vegas instead of Phoenix. Las Vegas occasionally hosts some Spring Training games, if catching a baseball game is a non-negotiable element of this trip. If not, you’d probably find Las Vegas to be better poised to make this itinerary work. Your schedule would look something like this:
Day 1 – Fly into Las Vegas, catch a spring training game, overnight in Las Vegas
Day 2 – Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hours), overnight at the Grand Canyon
Day 3 – Ranger-guided hike at South Rim. Drive to Page, AZ (~3-3.5 hours factoring in stops), night 1 in Page
Day 4 – Antelope Canyon early morning tour, 1/2-day Glen Canyon Float Trip, either spend 2nd night in Page, AZ, or drive to Zion and overnight in Springdale, UT.
Day 5 – Early AM drive from Page to Zion, or get early start out of Springdale, UT, for Zion National Park tour.
Day 6 – Drive back to Las Vegas (~3.5 hours), fly home
If you prefer to keep Phoenix as your staging city, and depending on your tolerance for making a longish drive at the beginning of your tour, you could do something like this:
Day 1 – Fly into Phoenix, catch baseball game, overnight in Phoenix
Day 2 – Drive from Phoenix to Kanab, UT (~6 hours), overnight in Kanab.
Day 3 – Drive from Kanab to Zion Ponderosa Ranch (~1 hour drive), take canyoneering tour, spend 2nd night in Kanab.
Day 4 – Drive to Page, AZ (~60-90 minutes), check in 10:00 AM for 11:00 AM float trip, take afternoon tour of Lower Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page.
Day 5 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops), overnight at South Rim.
Day 6 – Drive back to Phoenix, fly home.

Sorry to ramble on for so long, but hope that’s given you some things to think about. Please don’t hesitate to hit us up again if you need further guidance!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 24, 2019 at 4:01 PM

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From Theresa

Hi Alley,

We’re planning to make a short trip to AZ October 19-14. I have a 12 yr old daughter & a senior mom. We haven’t been to AZ before but my husband is a photographer by heart. Can you recommend best sites to see (including the antelope canyon) for this short a time, please? We’re flying from chicago to Phoenix & Planning to do an Airbnb for our stay. Thanks much!!

June 29, 2019 at 3:38 PM

Hi Erik,
No pets whatsoever are allowed in any branch of Antelope Canyon. If you are traveling with a pet, consider boarding them with Pampered Pets in Page, AZ.
Have fun,
Alley Keosheyan 🙂

June 24, 2019 at 2:19 PM

Hi Dawn, glad you’re finding our site helpful!
For folks with any kind of mobility limitations, we recommend Upper Antelope Canyon. It’s a very easy 100 yard out-and-back walk on a mostly flat trail. The most exciting aspect of the trip will probably be the 2 mile ride out to the canyon from the highway. In the event Upper Antelope is sold out, a good alternate would be Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon. Like Upper Antelope Canyon, it has no stairs or ladders to navigate, but at 450 yards, it is significantly longer than Upper Antelope, plus the 4WD trip out to the mouth of the canyon is longer as well, at 7-8 miles. If you take us up on that suggestion, you might consider booking the Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon + Horseshoe Bend Overlook tour since the tour company goes to Horseshoe Bend via a private entrance, which reduces the walk to the overlook to just 200 yards (normally, it’s 1.5 miles out and back).
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 24, 2019 at 2:49 PM

Hi Adrian!
We’ll keep our fingers crossed for you in the Coyote Buttes permit process.
As for where the trailhead to The Wave is, it’s located a few miles down the House Rock Valley Road, an unpaved dirt road that turns South off US89 between Page, AZ, and Kanab, UT. Look for signs for the Wire Pass Trail.

Experienced Wave hikers recommend that you be at the trailhead, or relatively close by, by sunrise. The hike to The Wave from the parking lot on the House Rock Valley Road (or the “HRVR” as we call it around here) is approximately 3 miles one way. For more information on hiking to The Wave, and another way you might see it in the likely event you don’t get a permit, visit our companion site, www.TheWaveAZ.com
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

June 24, 2019 at 2:42 PM

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From Adrian Holmes

Hi Alley
Thanks for the quick response and clarification for parking for the Wave. However I am assuming I won’t get a Wave permit so was thinking of applying for the Cayote Buttes South permit and wondering where I could drive to and then how far to walk to the South Buttes – I assume the parking place is different?
Thanks
Adrian

June 24, 2019 at 4:25 PM

Hi again, Amir!
If your visit is taking place anytime between now and late August, I would suggest taking the earlier time slot. In the event of excessive heat warnings, tours may be cancelled for customer safety. This happens fairly frequently during the peak heat months of summer.
Hope that helps. Have a good trip!
Alley 🙂

June 24, 2019 at 2:31 PM

Hi Amir,
So sorry you’re having trouble finding open tour slots for Antelope Canyon, but I’m frankly not surprised about it. It’s a very popular attraction, and tours there sell out weeks, sometimes months in advance.
Here are some tips on what to do if Antelope Canyon tours are sold out. One suggestion is to check slots in alternate slot canyons, many of which are just as beautiful as Antelope Canyon, but are a lot less crowded.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

June 24, 2019 at 2:29 PM

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From Marilyn S Young

We want to plan a trip to the canyon but my husband can not walk long distance or rough terrain. Are there places to be able to sit down but not on the ground to rest? Does any of the canyons allow motorized scooters? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Tizameh

October 10, 2019 at 1:12 AM

Hi Billie-Lynne,
Only you can decide whether Lower Antelope Canyon would be too much for your kids to handle. With a 3-year-old in tow especially, IMO you’d be better off touring Upper Antelope Canyon, since it has no stairs to navigate.
I would recommend watching this Full Walk-through Video of Lower Antelope Canyon to judge for yourself, then, whatever you decide, make reservations ASAP. Many tours are bound to be sold out.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 21, 2019 at 2:30 PM

Hi again, Christine!
One of the nice things about the most direct route from Grand Canyon South Rim to Phoenix is that it is quite scenic to begin with! A couple of modifications you might consider to make the most out of the trip:
Travel from Grand Canyon South Rim to Valle, AZ (~30 miles); in Valle, instead of going straight down AZ64, veer left onto US180. This will take you through the beautiful San Francisco Peaks area. I don’t recall if you planned to hit Sedona on your trip, just South of Flagstaff, you have the option to get on US89A through Oak Creed Canyon and Sedona. You can then get back onto I-17 easily enough by taking AZ179 through the Village of Oak Creek. If you wish, you might also stop at Montezuma’s Castle National Monument or Arcosanti. One drawback to this route – if you can call it that – is that once you get a glimpse of Sedona, you’ll wish you had more time there. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be planning a return visit in pretty short order!

Another option, if you haven’t been gone to Page, AZ, or Monument Valley before arriving at the Grand Canyon, would be to take the East Rim/Desert View Drive to Cameron, AZ, then turn South on US89 towards Flagstaff. If desired, take the scenic loop drive through Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments just North of Flagstaff. Heading South on I-17, the Sunset Point rest area near Black Canyon City offers beautiful views of the mountains to the West.

Have a safe trip!
Alley 🙂

June 21, 2019 at 2:24 PM

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From susie

Is Antelope Canyon still closed? We are making the trip mid September and want to book a tour.

September 02, 2020 at 5:20 PM

Hi Jennifer,
You will need to contact the individual tour companies to ascertain what they will require for a photo shoot of this nature.
For Lower Antelope Canyon, the tour companies are:
Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours (928) 606-2168 and Dixie Ellis’ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours (928) 640-1761
For Upper Antelope Canyon, contact:
Chief Tsosie’s Antelope Slot Canyon Tours – 928-65-5594
Roger Ekis’ Antelope Canyon Tours – 928-645-9102
Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours – 928-380-1874
Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours – 928-698-3384
Good luck and congratulations on your kids’ graduation!
Alley 🙂

June 19, 2019 at 3:19 PM

Hi Sanzeeda,
Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know how your trip went! We’re glad that our itinerary helped. If you ever have a chance to return to the area, check out our 14-day Grand Circle Tour itinerary for even suggestions on cool places to go and fun things to do.
Take care,
Alley 🙂

June 19, 2019 at 2:31 PM

Hi Scott,
You are correct that you cannot just drive up to Antelope Canyon and hope to join a tour. Bus tours, while convenient, do come at a cost, usually a high one. Self-driving definitely offers more freedom and flexibility to enjoy Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and other attractions in the Page, AZ, on your own schedule and your own terms. Because the drive from Las Vegas is relatively long – ~5 hours each way – it is best if you come over and spend 1-2 nights. For detailed instructions about how to book an Antelope Canyon tour on a self-drive basis, visit our pinned post, “How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon.”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 19, 2019 at 3:11 PM

Hi Carmen,
We commend you for making your Antelope Canyon tour plans well in advance! If you were to book one of the bundles (BTW, Horseshoe Bend is not included in any of them since you can visit on your own), you would need to have your own transportation between tour companies. That’s the way it is at the present time, anyway. By the time you visit, other provisions may be in place. We encourage you to keep apprised of any new developments concerning The Antelope Canyons on our Facebook page.
As for tours out of Las Vegas and Phoenix that go to Antelope Canyon, you’ll probably be hard-pressed to find one that covers all the things you want to do as they are limited on time. But, they are out there if that’s the way you want to go.
Antelope Canyon Tours from Phoenix & Las Vegas
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 19, 2019 at 3:03 PM

Hi Ady,
No, you may not enter Antelope Canyon on your own. The Antelope Canyons are on Navajo Indian Tribal Lands, therefore, an authorized tour guide is required to visit. Be sure to make a reservation ASAP!
How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 19, 2019 at 2:53 PM

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From Heng

Hi Sir,
Can I drive to Antelope myself from Las Vegas and join the tour to enter the canyon ??

June 30, 2019 at 8:38 AM

Hi Aime,
The Hidden Canyon Antelope Canyon Kayak Tour is 3 hours long. During the summer months, it departs 3x daily: 6:30 AM, 7:30 AM, and 1:00 PM. You meet your guide, and pick up your kayak at Antelope Point Marina.
Alley

June 18, 2019 at 12:43 PM

Hi Belinda,
If you are on a guided bus tour, I’d be very surprised to hear that it doesn’t visit Horseshoe Bend. Horseshoe Bend is regarded as a “must-do” attraction in Page, AZ, and the majority of escorted tours include a stop there. Before you jump through any hoops, I’d recommend contacting your tour company and verifying whether or not Horseshoe Bend is included on their itinerary. If it is not, unfortunately, you will be somewhat limited as to how you can get there. Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are reported as being somewhat unreliable in this area. I recommend contacting Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours as they offer a shuttle service from downtown Page, AZ. Explain your situation, and hopefully you can come up with some sort of agreement with them. Their contact information is as follows:
Phone: (435) 275-4594
e-mail: info@horseshoebendtours.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 17, 2019 at 2:37 PM

Hi Hartono,
Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours depart every 30-60 minutes throughout the day, depending on season. Duration of Upper Antelope Canyon tours runs ~90 minutes, the same for Lower Antelope Canyon tours. Whichever branch of the Antelope Canyons you opt to visit, advance reservations are strongly recommended. How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 17, 2019 at 2:09 PM

Hey Jenny,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, and well-planned. Most visitors doing a trip such as yours hit Zion first, since it’s closer to Las Vegas, then Bryce, then Page, AZ. Since you already have your lodging reservations made, though, I’d recommend keeping everything as is. Changing them at this point will be next to impossible.
Hopefully your flight to Las Vegas will arrive on time and you’ll experience minimal disruptions in picking up your rental car. Even if all goes according to plan, expect to take at least 60-90 minutes after landing to get underway from McCarran Airport. Then, you’re looking at ~5 hours’ drive from Las Vegas to Bryce. The reason for the longish estimate is because there is construction taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that is very likely to hold you up. The key is to make sure that you get to your final destination well before sunset. Driving at night in this part of the U.S. is strongly discouraged due to the lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the tendency of deer, elk, free range cattle and feral horses to congregate around them at night. Sunset at Bryce in September occurs at ~7:30 PM. Keep in mind that Nevada is on Pacific Time and Utah is on Mountain Time, which means that LAS is 1 hour behind Bryce. You’ll “lose” an hour traveling from one state to the other.
In Zion, if you don’t wish to take on anything as labor-intensive as Angel’s Landing, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of easy hikes you can enjoy. When you leave Utah, you’ll “gain” an hour traveling to Page, AZ, since Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
On Wednesday, plan on visiting Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise. The mid-day hours get very crowded, and hot. A sunrise visit offers the advantages of cooler temperatures and fewer people to contend with. Sunrise in Page, AZ, in September occurs at approximately 6:00 AM. Be sure to make your Antelope Canyon tour reservations ASAP if you haven’t done so already.
As for whether you’re trying to do too much, I don’t think so. But if some of the plans don’t materialize as you’ve made them, try not to fret too much about it. Oftentimes, the best memories of vacations are the moments that unfold unexpectedly. RE: Zion, you are correct in that more time there would be preferable. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be pining for a return trip after you get home!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 17, 2019 at 1:35 PM

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From Jenny

Alley, thank you so much for your words of wisdom…you are amazing! Great to know it is better to head to Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise to avoid the crowds! All things considered it might be wise to head to Zion first and then head to Bryce on Monday…..It looks like there will be the same road works going to Zion…how long do you think it will take to get to Zion??? I have checked and luckily I am able to change my Zion Accom to the Sunday night and it looks like I can get a room no problem at Ruby’s and will look out for a cancellation at Bryce Lodge 🙏 I know the drive from Ruby’s into Bryce but is it advisable for to do this before sunrise? Thanks again 😊

June 18, 2019 at 9:58 AM

Hi Krista (that’s my sister’s name!),
You are correct in that you’re looking at some long drives, and pulling a camper, you may be slightly restricted on what roads you use. Be sure to verify the feasibility of any routes you propose to travel before you setting out. Utah Scenic Byway 12 for example is an amazingly beautiful road, but some advise against traveling it with a camper in tow. Then again, others have done it and lived to tell the story, so do some research and decide for yourself.
You’re looking at a 12+ hour drive from the Black Hills of SD to Moab, UT. A good place to break up the drive would be Ft. Collins or Boulder, CO. On the drive back from Torrey, UT, you might stop over in Ouray or Montrose, CO.
RE: adding Grand Canyon North Rim to your itinerary, you are correct in that the most logical way to accomplish this would be to drop Monument Valley from your wish list. Unfortunately, it’s going to be darn near impossible to find lodging at the North Rim on this short of notice, so here’s what I’d recommend you do: cancel your reservations in Springdale, UT, and book 2-3 nights in Kanab, UT. Kanab is on the Western edge of Zion, so it only takes about 30 minutes one way to drive to Zion — assuming you can unhook your tow vehicle from your camper easily enough — then the following day, visit the North Rim as a day trip. It takes ~90 minutes, each way, to drive from Kanab, UT, to Grand Canyon North Rim. In late June, you have long daylengths working in your favor. Keep an eye on the clock and make sure you time your return trip so you are back to Kanab by sunset. In late June, sunrise in Kanab, UT, occurs at 6:15 AM, sunset shortly before 9:00 PM.

Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 17, 2019 at 2:06 PM

Hi Heather,
If you’re up for the moderate physical challenges of Lower Antelope Canyon, I’d recommend doing it. As for which tour company is “better,” both tour companies (Ken’s and Dixie Ellis) offer virtually identical tours right down to the footsteps, and the penny. No need to quibble too much over who you go with. Just book a time that fits your schedule, and book it ASAP! Time and desire permitting, you might also consider bundling your Antelope Canyon tour with another experience, such as a boat tour on Lake Powell, or a tour of the Navajo Village Heritage Center!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 14, 2019 at 12:47 PM

Hi Tamara,
According to the reservation form on Ken’s website, you do pay the Navajo Tribal Park fee when you book online.
Alley

June 13, 2019 at 4:06 PM

Hi John,
You have correctly deduced that you might have a hard time pulling all this off due to the short notice, but you’ll still have a wonderful time.
I do encourage you to be flexible in case things don’t shake out as you planned, and be prepared to hit some of the other attractions on a separate trip, such as Goblin Valley. It’s a neat spot, but for one, it’s CRAZY-hot at the time of year you’re visiting, plus it’s a little far-flung from all the other places you’ve got on your wish list. Another thing that’s not gonna happen: Havasupai. Again, beautiful place, but trips there need to be planned a year or more in advance. Reservations are hard to get for both the lodge and the campgound. For more information on planning a trip there in the future, visit www.HavasupaiReservations.com
The drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Page, AZ, takes ~10 hours. It should be broken up into 2 days so you can take your time visiting Mesa Verde, 4 Corners, and Monument Valley. Drive from CO Springs to Mesa Verde that first day (~6.5-7 hours), overnight in Durango or Cortez, then go the rest of the way to Page, AZ, via Monument Valley.
Once you get settled into Page, AZ, making day trips to some of the other attractions is doable at the time of year you’re visiting due to the long daylength. Still, it’s imperative to keep an eye the time and make sure you do any and all driving during daylight hours. Nighttime driving is not a good idea in this part of the country due to the fact that local roadways are very dark, and the possibility of colliding with a deer, elk, free range cow, or wild horse ratchets up after sunset. Another thing to keep in mind is that Arizona is on Mountain Standard Time, but Utah, Colorado, and the Navajo Indian Reservation are on Mountain DAYLIGHT Time. This means you’ll “gain” an hour traveling from Colorado to Page, AZ, then “lose” it again traveling from Page, AZ, to Bryce and Zion, then “regain” it upon returning to Arizona.
One-way drive times from Page, AZ, to the parks you’re wanting to visit are as follows:
Page to Zion: ~2 hours, get an early start, take the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos hike on the way
Page to Bryce: ~3 hours, you could also do the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstools hike on this trip if you prefer
Page to Grand Canyon: ~2.5 hours to either the North Rim or the South Rim, recommend prioritizing the South Rim over the North Rim because there’s more in the way of visitor services there, plus a larger area of the Grand Canyon that is driveable. If desired, you could take a helicopter flight from the South Rim over the North Rim. It wouldn’t land at the North Rim, but still give you enough time over it to leave you with a sense of how different it is from the South Rim.
For Marble Canyon, instead of driving there, I’d recommend taking the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip. As the name suggests, it doesn’t go through any rapids, but has a lot of beautiful scenery (including Marble Canyon) and compelling history.
On one of your days at the Lake Powell Resort, definitely plan on renting a small boat or some jet-skis to explore on the water, or you might consider “bundling” an Antelope Canyon tour with a waterside boat tour of the canyon from Antelope Point Marina. Hit Horseshoe Bend on one of your full days in Page, AZ, just after sunrise to take advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer people.
Hit Petrified Forest & Painted Desert on your way back to St. Louis. Get an early start on this day to avoid hiking during the hottest part of the day. Between there and Oklahoma City, you have the opportunity to explore a bit of Historic Route 66 if you’re into that.

Hope that helps. Oh, one more thing: plan to purchase an America The Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass. For $80, this card grants you access to all the National Parks and Monuments in the U.S. for 1 year’s time. The only areas it won’t work are Native American Tribal Parks (Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon fall under this category) and State Parks, but it will still pay for itself on the trip you’re planning to take. Just request it at the first National Park you visit.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 13, 2019 at 4:00 PM

Hi Mariance,
According to one of the Antelope Canyon tour operators:

“With the canyon being narrow in some sections and with multiple people wearing backpacks it not only scratches the canyon walls but can hit other people inside the canyon – we have witness too many people get knocked over by large bags. Purses vary in size, many of which are in the design of a backpack (not allowed). We do not have lockers, please lock your valuables in your vehicle. For Parents with small children, we are allowing this type of carrier (soft-sided) – but please don’t bring a hiking backpack with metal framing.”

For water bottles, there are lanyards available at many retail stores that allow you to carry your water on a strap around your neck or shoulder.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 13, 2019 at 3:29 PM

Hi Henry and thank you for visiting our site!
First off, I notice that the Grand Canyon is conspicuously absent from your itinerary. If you haven’t been there, I’d recommend prioritizing that over pretty much anything else. If you’ve already been to the Grand Canyon, or plan on saving it for another trip, then your trip plan looks pretty fun. I’d still suggest a couple of small modifications for maximum enjoyment of your time here.
On Day 1, plan on taking longer to do that drive than the timeframe given on Google Maps. It’s a very scenic drive, and you will be stopping to take pictures often. Sunset Point, a rest area just North of Phoenix on I-17, is worth a stop. Just North of Flagstaff, you might take the scenic loop drive through Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monuments. The Cameron Trading Post makes a good place to stop for lunch.
Where you propose to tour Antelope Canyon or Canyon X, you need to make a choice, and a reservation, if you haven’t done so already. Tours to the Antelope Canyons book up weeks, sometimes months in advance. FYI, the option is now available to “bundle” walking tours of Antelope Canyon with boat tours on Lake Powell. Check them out if the prospect of getting some time on the water interests you!
Day 2 – hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise. Assuming you’re visiting in the summer or fall, this will enable you to take advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer people. Mid-afternoon to sunset is crazy-busy, and there’s a good possibility of not finding a place to park during that timeframe.
Also, 1 night really isn’t enough for Sedona. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you not to go there, I’m just “warning” you that once you get a look at it, you’ll realize that you could spend 4-5 days there and still feel as though you’d only scratched the surface. I can pretty much guarantee that you’ll be planning a return trip to Sedona when you can give it the time it deserves! Here again, book that jeep tour in advance if you haven’t done so already.
Have fun, and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

June 13, 2019 at 3:24 PM

Hi Grant, and thank you for this excellent question!
The videos you most likely saw were filmed in early spring, hence the majority of people are wearing warmer clothing. In late June, plenty of people tour Antelope Canyon in shorts and are perfectly comfortable doing so. The interiors of both the slot canyon, and the waterside canyon tend to be cooler than the outside air, which is a welcome change, but you should still be comfortable wearing shorts. If in doubt, you might want to purchase a pair of convertible cargo pants before heading out on your trip. These long pants easily turn into shorts, and back again. That way, you can be prepared for virtually any weather condition, and adjust for your personal comfort level.
RE: swimming on the boat tour, conditions in the Antelope Canyon arm of Lake Powell usually aren’t conducive to it. Ultimately that’s at the discretion of your boat captain.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

June 11, 2019 at 2:26 PM

Hi Nancee,
First off, it’s going to take anywhere from 8-10 hours – one way – to drive from Southern California to the Grand Canyon or Page, AZ. If your kids are young, you should consider breaking up the drive in someplace like Las Vegas, NV, or Lake Havasu City, AZ.
After you have sorted that out, then step 1 should be to check availability of Grand Canyon lodging. That should be the “lynchpin” around which the rest of your trip planning revolves, and evolves. If possible, stay inside the park. If those hotels are full, then book something in Tusayan, AZ, which is 7 miles outside the park.
Next, verify availability of Antelope Canyon tours. Here again, if your kids are very young, like under the age of 6, Upper Antelope Canyon would be your best option for touring the land side of Antelope Canyon. If you were wanting to get some time on the water in, you might consider bundling an Upper Antelope Canyon tour with a short boat tour from Antelope Point Marina. After you have found an Antelope Canyon tour that suits your schedule, then book a hotel in Page, AZ. For Horseshoe Bend, plan on getting the kiddos up early and hitting that just after sunrise. That’s when you’ll be able to enjoy cooler temperatures and fewer people at the overlook.
At bare minimum, stay 1 night at Grand Canyon South Rim, and 2 nights in Page, AZ. Depending on how lodging availability and Antelope Canyon tour availability shakes out, be prepared to visit Page, AZ, and the Grand Canyon in that order, or the other direction. Drive-time wise, it doesn’t make much of a difference.
If you have more time to work with, you might think about spending 1-2 days at Zion National Park. You’d probably end up passing that way anyway, and it has lots of family-friendly activities. The lodging area for this park is Springdale, UT.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

June 11, 2019 at 2:19 PM

_________________________________________

From Shari L Happl

Is Horseshoe Bend water boat ride different from Antelope Canyon’s Waterside? IF so which is more scenic and do they both go out of the Antelope Point Marina?

July 04, 2019 at 5:43 PM

Hi Craig and thank you for your inquiry!
Yes, you are perfectly welcome to kayak into Antelope Canyon without a guide if you prefer. There are many fine kayak rental outlets in Page, AZ. As to whether it’s doable to have 1 adult and 1 child in a tandem kayak, I don’t see why not, but that’s something that should be verified with whatever rental company you choose to work with.
Regarding maps of Lake Powell, your kayak rental company should supply them, or offer them for sale. Many retail outlets in Page, AZ, sell them as well, but a decent selection of Lake Powell maps are available online. Fred’s Liquor has a surprisingly comprehensive array of maps, divided by individual side canyons and bays, including Antelope Canyon.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 10, 2019 at 1:51 PM

Hi Marti,
With 9 days to work with, you could do something like this:
Day 1 – Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, stop at Hoover Dam, ~5.5 hour drive (factoring in stops), overnight at Grand Canyon
Day 2 – 2nd day/night at the Grand Canyon
Day 3 – Drive from Grand Canyon to Page, AZ, ~4 hour drive factoring in stops, tour Antelope Canyon and/or Horseshoe Bend, overnight in Page, AZ
Day 4 – 2nd day/night in Page, AZ, take Glen Canyon Float Trip or Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour
Day 5 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Monument Valley, ~2.5 hour drive, overnight in Monument Valley ,
Day 6 – Take backcountry tour of Monument Valley (could also do this day prior, time permitting), drive to Sedona, AZ (~4 hour drive), overnight in Sedona.
Day 7 – 2nd day/night in Sedona, take Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour
Day 8 – 3rd day/night in Sedona, take sunrise hot air balloon flight (if desired), or spend day at Slide Rock State Park
Day 9 – Drive to Phoenix (~2.5 hours from Sedona), fly home
The first order of business, IMO, is to check lodging availability at Grand Canyon South Rim. Then, Antelope Canyon tour availability would be the next step to take.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

June 10, 2019 at 1:42 PM

Hi Mary Jo and thank you for your excellent inquiry.
You are correct in that Upper Antelope Canyon is way crowded, and that there are alternate slot canyons in the Page, AZ, area that are just as beautiful, but far less populated! Rattlesnake Canyon is one of those slots, but IIRC, you have to tour it as a “package” with Upper Antelope Canyon.
As for the “water canyons,” if you’re referring to the waterside of Antelope Canyon, it is not possible to “bundle” a tour of Lower and/or Upper Antelope Canyon with a short boat tour from Antelope Marina. There are other slot canyon type formations accessible from Lake Powell by kayak, and Hidden Canyon Kayak would be a good company to contact for more information on those.
If you think you’d be up for something a little more physical, and already have plans to visit Zion and/or Bryce Canyon, East Zion Experiences out of Orderville, UT, offers slot canyon tours with a rappelling component that sound like a blast! This company is a relatively new player on the slot canyon “scene,” so if you opt to do one of their trips, please let us know how you liked it!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

June 07, 2019 at 4:06 PM